Somewhere in New York, Braylon Edwards is Laughing at the Cleveland Browns

Isn't it amazing how things work in pro sports? When this season started, Braylon Edwards was a member of the Cleveland Browns. He had a reputation of being a locker room cancer and dropping passes. Much of the city wanted him traded. They eventually got that wish.

Now here we are in January, and Edwards is a game away from the Super Bowl. Although his catches have been few and far between, they have come in timely spots for the New York Jets. Even though he still has his drops, his timely catches have helped the Jets advance this far in the playoffs.

While there have been so many stories of players going from the penthouse to the outhouse, this one seems to be the reverse of that. Edwards was on a team that was arguably the worst in the league. At the time of the trade, they were. Needless to say, that prior to the trade Edwards never thought playing in the Super Bowl was possible.

This all happened because the ego of one man, Eric Mangini. This was a coach who was so focused on making a statement, that he was willing to trade away the best offensive playmakers. Now Edwards and Kellen Winslow are no longer Browns. Both seen to be doing just fine, while the Browns have yet to replace either one of them.

But wait, Mangini didn't want to deal with "malcontents." Is the truth really that he couldn't deal with them? Bill Belichick was never afraid to take a chance on "problem players." Corey Dillon and Randy Moss were locker room cancers, but they go to the New England Patriots where there is a coach that demands respect.

All these Super Bowls later, it is safe to say the Patriots have been just fine with these "problem players." Rex Ryan is also a coach that clearly demands respect. Since Edwards has been a Jet, there has been no reports of him being a locker room cancer. Have I mentioned that they are a game away from the Super Bowl?

Therefore, it seems to me that maybe the problem isn't the players and their massive egos. Maybe it is coaches who don't know how to manage these egos. Bill Parcells never had players that were problems, is it reasonable to think that none of them had huge egos?

Although I hate the New York Jets and I hate them even more since they drafted Mark Sanchez, I do love the attitude that Ryan brought to that team. There is no doubt that Edwards is laughing very hard at the Browns. After all, this player who supposedly was a cancer to a team is a game away from the Super Bowl.

Just in case, I didn't make the point clear enough:

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl. 

Braylon Edwards and the New York Jets are a game away from the Super Bowl.